Drum



B. SCHWARTZ July 1, 1930.

DRUM

Filed May 2, 1929 gwuentoz Patented July 1, 1930 PATENT OFFICE- BENJAMINSCHWARTZ, OF CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA DRUM Application filedMay 2, 1929.Serial No. 359,747.

This invention relates to instruments of the drum species consisting ofa hollow cylinder with vellum or skin stretched over the open end orends, to be beaten with sticks;

and more particularly to a novel construction of device simulating inuse that type commonly termed side, trap, and small kettledruins.

An object of my invention is to provide 1 an instrument that in tonaleffect simulates a side or trap drum, but which in appearance somewhatresembles a pear-shaped mandolin; and, incident to such formation isrendered compact and portable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a musical instrument ofthe typified character which is played with the fingers of the ri ht orleft hand without employment of stic s or other implements.

:10 A further object is the provision of a novel form of musicalinstrument possessing all the tonal characteristics of a side or trapdrum, which is cheap to manufacture, effective in use, and that providesa useful out- ;45 let for worn and discarded phonograph disc records.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view my invention embraces thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter set forth, and more specifically defined by the subjoinedclaims.

In the drawings 2- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one practical form ofmy novel musical instrument.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same, with the major portionof the neck in elevation; and,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view hereinafter fully explained.

l0 In accordance with the typified embodiment of my invention, which isto be considered purely exemplary, I take an ordinary sheet metal hollowhemisphere or pan 5,

preferabl although not essentially, of aluminum; t 1e peripheral edgewhereof is evenly beaded over at 6 to substantially round section, andthe base inwardly dished at 7.

Conveniently attached to the pan 5, as by screws 8, is a handle or neck9, which for at- ;a tractiveness is shaped as shown, and which 14, it isto be remarked, I preferably util ze old and discarded phonographrecords and coat them on the face to be exposed with a thin film ofshellac varnish 15Fig. 3, or both sides thereof may be similarlyfinished and the former artistically ornamented to lend attractivenessto the instrument. In 7 like manner the outer surface of the pan 5, aswell as the neck or handle 9, may be varnished and embellished bysuitable designs. The clamp screw 13 is of a size to snugly pass throughthe usual central orifice 16 in the record 14, and the latter is engagedby the head 17 thereof, clamping adjustment being effected through themedium of a wing nut 18 engaging the threaded shank of said screw; whilethe tubular sleeve 11 is steadied and maintained in correct verticalposition by means of a base flange 19 engaging the dished portion 7 ofthe pan 5, in an obvious manner.

It is also to be particularly remarked that the upper diameter of thepan 5 is such so that the disc 14 seats thereon proximate itscircumferential edge as clearly shown in Fig. 2; and that whenclampingly adjusted bythe wing nut 18 said disc is slightly disheddownwardly or inwards toward the interior of the pan 5. This feature isdeemed of importance as it effectively prevents lateral displacement ofthe disc 14, while always ensuring that contact with the 96 pan bead 6shall be evenly distributed over the round section surface of said bead;or, in effect I establish an air tight connection between the disc 14and pan 5 that enables an adequate volume of sound when the in- 100strument is played by the user. Furthermore, it is also to be noted thatvariation in the sonorousness of the instrument is regulated bytightening-up or slackening the wing nut 18; while the resonance iseffectively maintained incident to transmission of the vibrations fromthe diaphragm 14when struck by the players fingersthrough the spring 12to the aluminum wall of the pan 5, which I have found serves as anexcellent resonator.

From the foregoing, it is thought that my invention will be wellunderstood without further elaboration herein other than to remark thata skilful player, by easily cultivated manipulation of the fingers instriking the diaphragm 1a, readily produces any side or trap drumselection or orchestral accompaniment; and that the instrument is held,by the one hand, like an ordinary mandolin, banjo or guitar, against thebody and played by the fingers of the other hand with the wrist limplymaintained.

Finally, it is to be distinctly understood that I do not limit myself inany sense to the form of the body or pan 5, as I have obtained equallygood results with other designs or shapes thereof; and hence the rightis hereby reserved to make such changes or variations as are reasonablyencompassed by the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A drum comprisinga hollow metal body; a non-metallic disc seating on the perimetric edgeof said body; and means clamping such disc to the body with capacity forflexure relative thereto.

2. A drum comprising a hollow sheet metal body; a disc seating on theperimetric edge of said body; and means clamping such disc proximate itscircumferential edge to the body with capacity for adjustable flexurethereinto.

3. A drum comprising a hollow sheet metal hemisphere having a beadedperiphery; a disc seating on said beaded periphery proximate itscircumferential edge; and means clamping the disc to the hemisphere withcapacity for adjustable flexure thereinto.

a. A drum, comprising a hollow sheet aluminum pan having a round-sectionperipheral bead; a disc seating on said bead proximate itscircul'nferential edge; a tubular sleeve secured within and to the baseof the pan housing a helical spring; and a clamp bolt co-axially passingthrough the aforesaid disc, spring and pan bottom, with means wherebysaid spring is normally held under compression and the disc isadjustably flexed into the pan; for the purpose specified.

,Signed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., this 29th day of April,1929.

BENJAMIN SCHWARTZ.

